Differences in Offending Behaviors, Aggression, Substance Use, and Mental Health Problems between Male Drug Dealers and Non-Drug Dealers in Belgian Youth Detention Centers

Athina Bisback (), Wouter Vanderplasschen and Olivier F. Colins ()
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Athina Bisback: Department of Special Needs Education at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Wouter Vanderplasschen: Department of Special Needs Education at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Olivier F. Colins: Department of Special Needs Education at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 24, 1-15

Abstract: This study investigated whether drug dealing juvenile offenders in Belgium differ from non-drug dealers in levels of violent and non-violent offending behaviors, aggression, substance use, and mental health needs. The current study examined data from 226 16- to 17-year-old male juvenile offenders. Information relating to drug dealing, substance use, and mental health needs were collected through self-report questionnaires. A structured diagnostic interview was used to collect information about past violent and non-violent behaviors. Chi-square tests and multivariate analysis of variance compared non-dealers and dealers and explored if hard-drug dealers and soft-drug dealers differed from each other. Relative to non-drug dealers, drug dealers engaged in more violent offending behaviors, exhibited higher levels of aggression, substance use and oppositional defiant problems, and displayed lower levels of anxiety. Soft- and hard-drug dealers did not differ from each other. To conclude, detained drug dealers are characterized by severe antisocial behavior.

Keywords: adolescent offenders; drug dealing; substance use; violence; mental health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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